From the heart Let your garden showcase your passions Page A5
NEWS: No time for climate change discussion /A3 COMMUNITY: Firefighter offers keys to fitness /A10 SPORTS: Bantam Eagles off to nationals /A13
OAK BAYNEWS Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Move on the
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Great gumboots! Holly Neate, with World Fisheries Trust, introduces Dana Brown, 9, to a Gumboot Chiton. Dana, visiting from Winnipeg, was exploring the MEC Paddlefest at Willows Beach Saturday. Jennifer Blyth/Oak Bay News
Oak Bay enjoys busy visitor season Christine van Reeuwyk Oak Bay News
Visitor numbers appear to up within Oak Bay. “We have a few ways that we measure visitation,” said Karma Brophy, consultant with Tourism Oak Bay. “The most indicative is that hotel numbers are up this year, not just in Oak Bay but also in Victoria which affects us because we get a lot of visitors from downtown.” The hotel numbers within Oak Bay are
up over last year, says Phil Trott, assistant general manager at Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Occupancy for June was up 13 per cent over last year, and July is up 17 per cent. “We’re running about 87 per cent occupancy,” Trott said. The average rate is up $30 over last year and occupancies for August are at 93 per cent. “It’s just been a great year for tourism in Victoria. We are becoming a well-recognized brand in Canada and internationally as well.” In its list of Canada’s Top Hotels, TripAdvisor ranked the hotel fourth in the
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category Luxury Hotel in Canada; ninth in Top Hotel in Canada; and 20th in Top Hotel for Romance in Canada. “Those accolades are certainly having an impact as well,” Trott said. “On average about 86 per cent of all travellers will actually check your online reputation, so it’s hard not to have a positive impact on our operation.” PLEASE SEE: Tourist traffic looking up, Page A2
Something new in Oak Bay Q A few new activities are helping Tourism Oak Bay bring in visitors this summer season – from sea tales to pedal tours. “We’re always looking for companies that are interested in providing tourism products and we like to support innovation,” said consultant Karma Brophy. The Songhees First Nation and Coastal Sea Ventures launched a cultural boat tour for the summer season. Victoria’s Pedaler plans to have folks cycling Oak Bay, the well-established Discover the Past takes guests on guided walking tours in the community and Feast Concierge offers culinary tours. Learn more at oakbaytourism.com
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